Explanation: "Too well I see and rue the dire event... That with sad overthrow and foul defeat...Heavenly essences Can perish." (Lines 134-139)

Explanation:

"Too well I see and rue the dire event
That with sad overthrow and foul defeat
Hath lost us Heaven and all this mighty host
In horrible destruction laid thus low,

As far as gods and Heavenly essences Can perish."
(Lines 134-139)

Answer: This extract has been quoted from 'Paradise Lost', Book I, the greatest English epic, composed by John Milton, the most distinguished poet in English literature. These lines are spoken by Beelzebub in reply to Satan's first speech, expressing his realisation of the terrible havoc caused to the fallen angels by their sad overthrow.

Though Beelzebub is Satan's closest lieutenant, he is not equally strong and optimistic. He is depressed at the miserable plight of the rebel angels. He recalls regretfully the terrible event of war in which they have suffered 'foul defeat' and 'sad overthrow' from Heaven. The loss of Heaven is a mighty blow to them. They are lying abjectly in hell and are afflicted with horrible destruction as far as such destruction can be caused to gods and heavenly essences. Beelzebub agrees with him that 'the mind and spirit remain invincible, and vigour soon returns'. He questions Satan's faith in their recovered powers and spirit which God is likely to use to serve his own purpose. He fears that they will be employed by God to "do him mightier service as His thralls/By right of war." Hence, he asks Satan ironically what advantage it is to have undiminished strength and immortal nature, if these merely enable them to undergo eternal punishment.

In these lines, Beelzebub stands in sharp contrast to Satan in character and sentiment. Satan expresses rage, pride, impenitence, the sense of complete defeat, and a certain sarcastic commonsense which points out that the undiminished strength of the fallen angels may simply fit them all the better to carry out the purposes of their great victor.